St John's American Evangelical Lutheran Church203 Pearl Street, Guttenberg, Iowa 563-252-2355 |
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A Congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |
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Our Mission and Vision
The lighthouse, symbolizing the light of Christ, conveys an unmovable reference point that guides us on our journey in life. Whether you find yourself in calm waters, or are facing turmoil and uncertainty, the lighthouse give us direction when it would be all too easy to lose one’s way. The lighthouse is a fitting symbol as we go about our consideration and commitment to the Mission of St. John’s Lutheran Church. The lighthouse we are charged to keep is not only for our own comfort and safety, but for all mariners who seek refuge and comfort in the Word of God.
Our
‘Characteristic’… A question that always needs to be before us, is “what will St. John’s be about in ten or more years?” not “what will St. John’s look like in ten or more years?” One of our ongoing strategies is the continual evaluation and identification of needs and resources that will further empower our outreach. Our ongoing goals include:
Our light ‘characteristic’ reflects a Commitment to evangelism... Willingness to take bold steps of faith… “In the same way, let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” –Mt. 5:16
Every
Christian is an ambassador of Christ Jesus—commissioned and sent to present Him
to the world. Our Lutheran heritage and tradition has always been one of placing Biblical witness and knowledge as a high priority in life. As we meet the challenges of daily life, we need to hold before us the promises of God that lifts us out of the darkness and beckons us to the light. We seek to provide opportunities to continually grow in His Word of life and light including:
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” –Ps. 119:105
Christians seek spiritual growth through continual learning and meaningful and
authentic relationships. Church membership offers us the opportunity to be in community and fellowship with one another. As St. Paul says in his letter to the church in Rome, “so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”-Ro. 12:5. What this means for us at St. John’s, is that together when one member rejoices—we all rejoice, and when one member falls, we are there to lift them up in prayer, and mutual support and consolation. We offer many opportunities for you to join us in:
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.”-1 Jn. 1:7
The
church is a body, a community of individual servants working and praying
together. We seek to provide Christ-centered worship services that speak to our changing culture and demands that face us in our daily lives. As we provide these services, we are aware of the needs of the community and the world in which we live. We invite you to participate in our worship through:
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”-He. 13:8
The
church must continually seek the most effective ways to communicate the
unchanging Gospel to an ever-changing culture. Just as God welcomes us, so too we welcome others. St. John’s is a very friendly and active congregation that continues to steadily grow in membership. We believe this is due in large part to the warmth and energetic participation of the congregation and our philosophy of welcoming strangers as we welcome friends. Welcoming is not a one-time event, but rather an ongoing process of:
We here at St. John’s are proud of our rich heritage and our ties with the community as evidenced by continuing those traditions that we hold dear to our hearts. While we continue in our long heritage, we are also open to new ideas and new members, for the new ideas of today, may become the traditions of tomorrow. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”-Mt. 11:30
The
church is God’s called people, willing to let the Holy Spirit lead us into new
avenues of adventure. St. John’s seeks to respond ecumenically with our fellow brothers and sisters in enabling the community in which we are a part, to celebrate the light of Christ in our midst. We do this through:
“For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”-Ac. 13:47
Christian
ministry makes a difference in the community and the world. We have a rich legacy of stepping forth as a missional church including:
“For with you is the foundation of life; in your light we see light.” –Ps. 36:9
How far can you see?... An undertaking of this scope involves the consideration of a number of issues. Councils, Boards, Staff and many members have suggested, studied, and evaluated where our vision will take us. As we struggle with the question of “what would God have us do?” we have discerned our Core Value Statements. These are values that we will not compromise on, but always seek to hold before us as we evaluate our mission and ministry.
Therefore, the Vision Statement of St. John’s is: “Challenged to become Christ-like in every moment of daily living.” We have a vision to be
St. John’s continues to be sensitive and loving toward people outside the faith, but we don’t stop there. We intentionally set about creating opportunities and connections for spiritual seekers to come to a safe place to hear the life-changing and eternity-altering message of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. May the light of Christ provide you safe passage on your life’s journey!
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The
lighthouse and its beacon are widely recognized symbols of direction and
stability. Light is a strong symbol used throughout the Bible (“In Him was
life, and the life was the light of the men. The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.” –Jn 1:4-5)
made St. John’s such an inviting community. Our community
of faith continues to not only grow in numbers, but also in diversity, for
each new member brings with him/her unique talents and gifts that can be
exercised to the glory of God.
